Find the top rated hike trails in Condon, whether you're looking for an easy short hike trail or a long hike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a hike trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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Hubby and I took our Great Dane here while visiting Boardman. Plenty of parking (had our bobtail semi) and clean facilities. Absolutely loved the view. It is windy, so be careful with your hats.
An absolute stunning view along the mighty Columbia river. Great for the whole family including pets.
Love the location! Right on the river! Along the path is a wonderful hotel with great food that makes a perfect stopping point. Also the marina park for the kids to play at makes exercising with children easy!
This trail is not paved, but most of what I traversed was compact ground. It follows the Deschutes river and has some wonderful views. I have only ridden up this trail 5 miles, but take trains up the opposite side almost daily.
June 16, 2012
I'm writing this review two years after the above date.
I took the trusty BikeE on the trip. It did ok but the mountain bike would have been a better choice as I destroyed my rear tire on the way back when I hit a big rock.
The Scenery was amazing. The typical desert rolling hills of eastern Oregon punctuated by the blue and green ribbon of the Deschutes River flowing through the canyon. I saw some deer and even bighorn sheep. There is no shade or water so plan accordingly. The trail is high above the valley floor. The surface is hard-packed crushed rock double track. Sometimes it was just easier riding in the center. Several rafters went by during my journey. There were several outhouses along the way and what looked like camping areas down below along the river.
The grade is slightly uphill from the start at the Columbia River where there is a great place to spend the night at the campgrounds. I van camped for only a pittance which included a great shower facility. The camp hosts were super nice and even gave me a bottle of water as I was hitting the trail.
9. 2011
Whodathunkit?
TrailBear in Boardman?
Where is that?
TrailBear had never heard of Boardman, OR – and he has lived many years in the NorthWet. That was until, researching bike trails that TrailLink had not discovered, he found a reference. A bit of digging and he had a map. Something called the Columbia River Heritage Trail – and anchored by a marina and RV park in Boardman. Any camping along the Columbia is worth a look if the Migration takes us that way.
OK, Boardman is near Umatilla. He certainly knew Umatilla. Think: ordnance depot and chemical depot. Think: disposing of nerve gas ordnance and other nasty things Listen: If that siren wails, better find UpWind and head there at speed. Break records. They’ve had an Ooops at Umatilla. (Actually, they have done a good job at a difficult task and are about done.)
@@@ LOCAL KNOWLEDGE…
http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/umatilla-ordnance-depot/
http://www.portofmorrow.com/
http://www.boardmanmarinapark.com/
http://www.columbiarivertrail.org/
@@@ THE TRAIL – A COLLAGE
The CRHT is a bit of this and a bit of that. And, yes, Lewis and Clark slept here. Where did they not? They slept all along the river. The best Lewis and Clark Slept Here is up in Clarkston, WA. They point out that L & C Slept There – on the opposite bank, much to the regret of the Clarkston Chamber of Commerce. If only they had known.
The core is a 3 mile asphalt bike trail along the Columbia River from the southern edge of the Port of Morrow industrial zone on the east to the end of the marina grounds on the west. It is anchored by the RV park.
This is a charming river ride with good vistas. The eastern loop is anchored by a sandy beach park with ample parking and restrooms. The loop back from this point takes you along the river to the hotel and conference center, then over to rejoin the trail.
You are soon pedaling through the Boardman Marina and RV Park – which is a rather nice facility. Even has wi-fi. TB loves wi-fi. It has many shade trees. TB loves shade trees. We were here after the Autumn Equinox – when Fall Arrives with cool weather. Right.
Most years we are blown eastward by rain storms. This year we were in the Brain Fry Zone. The whole Columbia Basin was hot. Idaho was hot. Utah was hot. Nevada was hot and sweaty. All TB wanted to do was lay in the shade of a tree, watch the river and fan himself. Instead he was out scouting the trail – parts of it.
Ride though the park and you come to the fish cleaning station at the outer parking lot. From here you work across the marina to a section beyond. It is a nice little ride around a point and back by the ball field. No biggie, but it has charm and some nice views.
This concludes the Class I park of the CRHT. If you go back to the bridge over the rail lines, take that into town. There is a mixture of Class II and Class I down Main St. to SW Wilson Lane. Here the trail turns west. There is a bit of trail, then you are on the road. The question is: Why?
If you are going to do the roads, go the other way (eastward from the marina) through the industrial park on a good road and wide shoulder – the Columbia River Highway – to The Bomb Docks of Irrigon.
That got your attention, didn’t it? What lad, regardless of age, could resist a visit to the Bomb Docks? Sorry, they used to ship bombs and such from the Depot here, but no more. Not even a factory store where you could pick up a second on a 500# GP bomb or artillery shell.
TrailBear manfully resisted the siren call of the Bomb Docks. Too damned hot. He found shade and a book. Perhaps next season. In the cool of fall. With global warming, that may be mid October. November?
Ride on!
TrailBear
Looking for the A/C
Warning, it can be hot. Ride early and take lots of water (3-4 liters per person). There is no shade and the afternoon sun creates a furnace in the canyon.
We (myself, wife, kids 15,13,11--all on front suspension hybrid bikes) rode 26 miles without any problems. The road surface is mostly packed small gravel with some washboard areas that can be avoided by riding toward the center of the road. We were told the road runs out around mile 17.
Great sights along the way include the rocky cliffs, boxcars, homestead, watertower, large birds and snakes. The river beckons but it generally too hard to get to. Beware of rattle snakes but enjoy!
7/28/11
Some sections of this railroad grade are infested with a weed called Puncture Vine or Goat Head. In the fall this plant produces sharp seeds which puncture bicycle tires and ruin both tires and tubes. This is a noxious weed and each infestation encountered should be reported to the Bureau of Land Management in Prinville Oregon. This weed cost me two tires and tubes and a long push out on Oct 20, 2009.
"This trail is still firmly in the ""it's got potential"" category. On many other rails to trails rides that I've been on, there was a bit of romance to riding on a railroad bed that had been resurfaced. This particular railroad bed is little more than a well used and quite washboarded double track road. Between the corrugated surface and long stretches of dirt mixed with chunky volcanic rock, it's a 35 (GPS measured) mile long bone-shaker of an expedition. Don't even THINK about doing it with a regular street bike. I have a dual suspension quality mountain bike, and I still took a beating. It didn't help that the ambient temperature was over 105. I'd suggest that you make the trip out to the abandoned station houses/ranch house, going past that point (around mile 12) nets you nothing but more rocky going. Bring lots of water (I went through a full half gallon), don't bring kids unless you wish to have your folly brought up at every future family reunion."
"This trail is a must for history buffs who like a taste of the outdoors. Along the trail are two old wooden box cars and two trestles. The trail was re-graveled and compacted in September '04 to about mile 7. At mile 11, there is an abandoned station that is in remarkable shape. Inside is the original sofa, icebox, stove, fireplace, and other furnishings from 1935 when the line was abandoned. At mile 12, the water tower used to refill steam locomtives is still standing. Truly an awesome trail."
"This trail is a favorite of ours. We did 28 miles (round trip) this spring 2003. I had my 7-year-old on a hitch-hiker attached to my mountain bike. It took us about seven hours total with plenty of stops.
The trail is bumpy, rocky, windy, dry and rugged with spectacular views. Check out the abandoned cattle ranch about 11 miles out. Watch out for rattle snakes!"
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